NEWS

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Professor Mark Tayor with SET Urology Team  More than 70 men across Northern Ireland have now undergone pioneering robotic Aquablation surgery since May 2025, marking a significant milestone in the transformation of urology services and elective care reform. The South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (SEHSCT) is leading the regional rollout, with the technology already reducing waiting lists, improving outcomes and offering faster, safer a

Multi-agency preparations are underway across Northern Ireland ahead of Storm Bram, with a Met Office yellow warning in place for strong winds on Tuesday 9 December from 9am to 9pm. Forecasters warn that gusts of 50–60mph are expected widely, with the potential to exceed 70mph in the most exposed western areas. The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has activated emergency response measures, as teams continue clearing road gullies, checking drainage systems and placing addit

A new suspected case of Bluetongue has been identified on a farm near Greyabbey, prompting the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to impose a second 20km Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) in Co Down. The case was detected during routine surveillance testing within the existing TCZ, established on 29 November 2025 around a holding near Bangor where the Bluetongue BTV-3 virus was first discovered. According to DAERA, the latest controls will take effect

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has urged consumers across Northern Ireland to remain alert to fraudsters during the busy festive shopping period, warning that scammers are increasingly exploiting the rush of online gift buying. Dr Archibald said: “Fraudsters don’t stop for Christmas and will continue to operate, targeting people who are busy preparing for the festive season. With so many people shopping online for gifts it’s worth taking a bit more time to ensure that

Education Minister Paul Givan is pictured at Anahilt Pre-school Playgroup, Hillsborough with pupils and Dara Graham, Preschool Leader. Education Minister Paul Givan has announced a major expansion of pre-school education provision, with an additional 102 pre-school settings  across Northern Ireland approved to offer full-time education from September 2026. This announcement represents the second phase of settings approved to transition to offering full-time places under the o

Kilrea Bridge Kilrea Bridge is set to reopen to cars and light vehicles this weekend, as the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) confirms that temporary stabilisation works are nearing completion. The route will reopen at 8am on Saturday 6 December, restoring a vital connection for local residents and businesses in the run-up to Christmas. The bridge, located on the B64 Bann Road, has been closed to allow engineers to carry out essential safety work. DfI has now confirmed tha

Northern Ireland’s primary care system is “in crisis” and requires “urgent intervention” , according to a major new report from the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The Report on Access to General Practice in Northern Ireland outlines serious shortcomings in how patients access GP services and calls for radical reform of the system. The PAC report, based on evidence from health organisations, the Department of Health (DoH), and an unprecedented p

Flu cases across Northern Ireland have almost doubled in the past week, prompting an urgent call from Health Minister Mike Nesbitt for eligible people to come forward for vaccination. Positive influenza cases have risen sharply to 954, with flu-related hospital admissions also nearly doubling to 264. During a visit to the Ulster Hospital vaccination clinic, the Minister warned that winter pressures on the health service are intensifying and stressed the importance of timely v

Emma Rose Duffy has experience volunteering with the NSPCC Young Witness Service and obtained a master’s degree in Children’s Rights, before qualifying as a solicitor in 2019. Working with the Children’s Law Centre, she promoted the rights of young people in the legal system, with a particular focus on mental health, prior to taking up the CSOLA role. A new series of awareness-raising videos has been launched by the Department of Justice to highlight a free legal advisory ser

Latharna House high rise block of flats in Larne. Mid and East Antrim councillors have been given assurances by the Housing Executive over the future demolition of Larne’s last remaining high-rise flats. Speaking at a meeting of the council’s Neighbourhoods and Communities Committee at The Braid in Ballymena on Tuesday evening, Housing Executive chief executive Grainia Long was responding to a query from Larne Lough Alliance Councillor Maeve Donnelly regarding the unoccupied

Kilrea Bridge UUP councillor Richard Holmes has expressed concern that responsibility for supporting local businesses affected by the closure of Kilrea Bridge is “being passed around like a grenade” among government departments. In late September, the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) announced the bridge’s closure due to concerns about the structural stability of a retaining wall on the approach to the structure. DfI has since said it is working with a specialist contrac

Professor Linda Kelly, NIPEC Chief Executive; Health Minister Mike Nesbitt; Professor Maria McIlgorm, Chief Nursing Office A new Career and Development Model designed to support professional growth and long-term workforce retention across Northern Ireland’s nursing and midwifery professions has been formally launched. The model, unveiled this week at the Northern Ireland Practice & Education Council for Nursing & Midwifery (NIPEC) annual conference, provides a clear and struc

Preliminary test results released by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) have revealed the suspected presence of Bluetongue virus (BTV-3) in a further 44 cattle within a Co Down herd, following the confirmation of two initial cases last week. The findings relate to a holding near Bangor, situated within the 20km Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) introduced on Saturday 29 November. DAERA has stressed that while Bluetongue poses no risk to human heal

The Battle Garden associated with the Moravian Church in Kilwarlin, Co Down. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has announced the formal protection of several “hidden gems” across Northern Ireland, following the addition of a number of historically significant sites to the official schedule of monuments and list of protected buildings. The newly designated sites span multiple counties and reflect what the Minister described as “a microcosm of our rich heritage”. Among them a

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins is pictured with CEO of Gaist Steve Birdsall as she launches a new Road Maintenance Strategy for consultation. Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has unveiled a major shift in how Northern Ireland’s road network will be maintained in the years ahead, with technology and data-driven decision-making placed at the centre of a newly published draft Road Maintenance Strategy. The strategy, now open for public consultation, sets out a long-term

Northern Ireland’s Health and Social Care (HSC) system has cut its spending on off-contract nurses, midwives and healthcare support workers by £120 million since May 2023, the Department of Health has confirmed. The reduction follows the introduction of the Nursing/Midwifery and Healthcare Support Framework, a procurement reform designed to curb high-cost agency spending and strengthen the long-term stability of the workforce. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said the framework h

Ulster Unionist Education Spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA has welcomed the introduction of a new emergency messaging system for schools, following the Education Minister’s admission that “communication failures” took place during the handling of Storm Amy. The recent review into the events surrounding the storm found that critical updates were not delivered quickly enough to schools, leading to widespread confusion as closure decisions were issued. Mr Burrows said the review h

Ulster Unionist Agriculture Spokesperson and Chair of the Stormont Agriculture Committee, Robbie Butler MLA , has warned that a suspected case of Bluetongue in Co Down marks a “deeply worrying development” for Northern Ireland’s farming community. His comments follow confirmation that DAERA officials are investigating the presence of Bluetongue virus in two cows at a holding near Bangor. A 20km Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) is now in force, restricting the movement of suscept

DAERA vets are investigating a suspected case of Bluetongue virus at a livestock holding near Bangor, Co Down, prompting urgent disease control measures and the introduction of a 20km Temporary Control Zone (TCZ). The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) confirmed that results from its active Bluetongue surveillance programme “indicated the presence of the disease in two cows”. Officials have now implemented what they describe as “robust disease co

Work taking place on the Glenshesk Road, Ballycastle over the last months following a landslide. (Image: Anne Kelly) Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has confirmed that the Glenshesk Road in Ballycastle will reopen to traffic by 5pm on Monday 1 December, marking a significant milestone after months of disruption caused by severe weather damage. The route, which has been partially closed between Glenbank Road and Greenan Road since last year, suffered a serious embankment f